'The Amazing Race' eliminates Racers Amy Purdy and Daniel Gale

The Amazing Race eliminated Amy Purdy and Daniel Gale during Sunday night's second broadcast of the CBS reality competition's 21st season.


The "Dating On and Off Couple" became the second team eliminated from the around-the-world competition after they arrived at the Race's second Pit Stop at the Pasar Pabean Market in Surabaya, Indonesia in last place.

"We're feeling pretty disappointed right now. This has just been such an awesome experience and we just want to keep going. The stars just didn't align today with us," Amy, a double-amputee, said following her team's ouster.

"Amy is such an incredible woman and we were right up front. We really did have the potential to win the thing," Daniel added.

The second episode of The Amazing Race's 21st season began where last week's broadcast left off, with the Race's 10 teams meeting with The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan and leaving the course's first Pit Stop at the Bund Observatory in Shanghai, China.


Since they had been the team to finish in first place at the Race's first Pit Stop, "Dating Divorcees" Abbie Ginsberg and Ryan Danz were the first team to depart from the observatory at 5:35AM.

They were then followed by Amy and Daniel at 5:36AM, "Best Friends" Caitlin King and Brittany Fletcher at 5:41AM, "Twin Sisters" Natalie Anderson and Nadiya Anderson at 6:05AM, and "Married Monster Truckers" Rob French and Kelley Carrington-French at 6:08AM.

Although their departure times were not shown, Rob and Kelley were followed by "Friends" James LoMenzo and Mark "Abba" Abbattista, "Goat Farmers and Life Partners" Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge, "Best Friends and Substitute Teachers" Gary Wojnar and Will Chiola, "Dating Couple" Trey Wier and Alexis "Lexi" Beerman, and "Chippendales Dancers and Best Friends" Jaymes Vaughan and James Davis.

Upon opening their departure clues, the teams were instructed to fly to Surabaya, Indonesia. Once they landed, they'd be required to travel over the Suramadu Bridge and make their way to Alun Alun Stadium, where they would find their next clue. The teams also learned the winner of the Race's second leg would receive the Express Pass, which would allow the couple to skip one challenge at any point in the Race that they would not want to complete.

There were apparently two connecting flights to Surabaya, but all the teams only knew of one and assumed the flight they had booked was the earliest and fastest. Rob and Kelley actually got seats on the earlier departing flight at 8:20AM, but they were to be stuck with a four-hour layover in Hong Kong. All the other teams got on a flight leaving at 10:05AM with a seemingly quick layover in Jakarta. 


Out of Jakarta, James L. and Abba got lucky with standby seating on a flight to Surabaya that left an hour earlier than the next, which naturally put them one hour ahead of the other eight teams who were on the same prior flight as them. While many of the other teams tried to book standby seats, they failed to receive them.

As a result of the flight schedules, James L. and Abba were the first team to arrive at the Alun Alun Stadium. They were soon followed by Amy and Daniel, Abbie and Ryan, Jaymes V. and James D., Trey and Lexi, Natalie and Nadiya, Josh and Brent, Caitlin and Brittany, Gary and Will, and finally Rob and Kelley -- who were way behind at that point but had no idea they were in last place.

Upon making it to the stadium, the teams were instructed to take a number and wait for the opening of the bull races at 8AM the next morning. The teams took their numbers in the same order they had previously arrived at the stadium. During this time, Natalie and Nadiya declared they were working with Trey and Lexi as an alliance.

Once the bull-racing gates opened, the teams then learned they must hop on a motorcycle with a professional driver and race to the finish line against a pair of champion bulls. The teams also finished the task in the same order they had picked their numbers.

After completing the bull races, the teams' next set of clues instructed them to make their way to Genteng Kali Bridge and search for their next clue.


Still maintaining the lead, James L. and Abba were the first pair to arrive at the bridge. They were then followed by Amy and Daniel, Abbie and Ryan, Jaymes V. and James D., Trey and Lexi, Natalie and Nadiya, Josh and Brent, Caitlin and Brittany, Gary and Will, and Rob and Kelley.

Once at the Genteng Kali Bridge, the teams learned they had to complete a Roadblock task.

For the Roadblock task, one member of each team was required to operate a pedal-powered amusement ride and give four children a ride. That person had to pedal the portable machine while also making eight pieces of balloon art for the kids. Once the children got a ride and all their balloons, one of them would hand the teammate his or her next clue.

James L., Jaymes V., Amy, Abbie, Lexi, Nadiya, Josh, Will, Rob, and Caitlin all opted to attempt the season's third Roadblock task.

The task proved to be most difficult for the majority of male participants. Will especially struggled with the task, not because of the pedaling portion, but because he couldn't seem to put together a balloon animal to save his life. Will found himself sweating profusely and working on the balloons until his hands were visibly shaking. With Gary cheering him on, however, Will eventually finished the task.


Trey and Lexi were the first team to complete the Roadblock task, and they were soon followed by Amy and Daniel, Natalie and Nadiya, James L. and Abba, Jaymes V. and James D., Abbie and Ryan, Josh and Brent, Caitlin and Brittany, Rob and Kelley, and finally Gary and Will.

The next set of clues instructed the teams to travel to Wijaya Motor Shop, were they would receive their next clue. Although the instructions seemed simple, this part of the leg is where a few of the season's teams lost their lead, their cool and their way.

James L. and Abba were brought by their taxi driver to Wijaya Tire instead of Wijaya Motor. Amy and Daniel got completely lost and wandered around in their cab to find the correct location, while Rob and Kelley's taxi driver didn't know where he was going at all.

Trey and Lexi were the first pair to arrive at Wijaya Motor. They were then followed by Natalie and Nadiya, Jaymes V. and James D., Abbie and Ryan, Josh and Brent, James L. and Abba, Caitlin and Brittany, Gary and Will, Rob and Kelley, and Amy and Daniel.

Once the teams received their next set of clues, it then became time for them to complete one of two Detour tasks: "Ice by the Pound" or "Fish by the Barrel."


"Ice by the Pound" required the teams to deliver ten 65-pound blocks of ice. They had to first retrieve ice blocks from a giant ice-maker one at a time, slide it through the factory and then deliver it to a truck. Once they arrived at a market after taking a ride in the truck, they'd have to use a special cart to deliver their cargo to a local store.

"Fish by the Barrel" required the teams to go to a market and sort through thousands of assorted fresh fish just using their hands. Once the fish were properly stocked and stacked, they then had to set up a stall. When a vendor felt they were ready for business, they'd receive their next clue.

All the teams except for Natalie and Nadiya opted to do the "Ice by the Pound" task. However, the "Fish by the Barrel" task proved to be the faster, easier choice of the two Detour tasks -- unless Natalie and Nadiya were just extremely efficient at getting it done.

Natalie and Nadiya were the first team to finish their Detour task, and they were then followed by Trey and Lexi, Jaymes V. and James D., Abbie and Ryan, Josh and Brent, James L. and Abba, Caitlin and Brittany, Rob and Kelley, Gary and Will, and Amy and Daniel. Amy and Daniel were so far behind it seemed like they wouldn't have much of a chance to catch up to the other teams.

Once the teams completed either of the two Detour tasks, they learned they must make their way on foot to the Pasar Pabean Market, which would serve as The Amazing Race's second Pit Stop.

Natalie and Nadiya arrived at the Pit Stop mat and met Phil in first place. For finishing the leg before any of the other teams, the pair won the show's Express Pass. 


Trey and Lexi then came in second place, while Jaymes V. and James D. were right behind them and subsequently secured third place.

Abbie and Ryan then made it to the Pit Stop mat in fourth place and were followed by Josh and Brent and James L. and Abba in fifth and sixth place respectively.

Caitlin and Brittany then arrived in seventh place, Rob and Kelley came in eighth and Gary and Will stepped onto the Pit Stop mat in ninth. Amy and Daniel then met Phil in tenth -- and last -- place and seemed devastated, especially since they had finished the Race's first leg in a close second place. 

"Amy and Daniel, I'm sorry to tell you that you are the last team to arrive. And you have been eliminated from the Race," Phil told the team.

"It's okay. It's okay," Amy said in tears.

"We did everything we could and Amy's just an incredible human, and I'm just so proud of her," Daniel noted. 


"It's heartbreaking because it's just been so awesome," Amy added.

"I'm just so proud of her, and I love you so much," Daniel said.

"I love you too baby," Amy replied.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski